Hostilities between the United States and Kingdom of Spain were officially recognized by Congress on April 21, 1898: Spain declaring war April 23, 1898. Pursuant to act of Congress the previous day “to provide for temporarily increasing the military establishment of the United States in time of war, and for other purposes” & proclamation of the President calling for 125,000 troops, Rhode Island was directed to raise as its quota one regiment of infantry to serve for a period of two years unless sooner discharged. Enlistment stations were open at 24 North Main Street & 614 Westminster Street in Providence, the State armory on Thames Street in Newport, the State armory at Pawtucket, at Main Street opposite the post office in Woonsocket & at Westerly. A camp of instruction established at State Camp Ground at Quonset Point in North Kingstown began receiving the newly enrolled recruits for the regiment on May 2, 1898. Organization of the First Rhode Island US Volunteer Infantry being complete the field & staff were mustered into US service on May 10, with non commissioned officers & privates following May 11 - 18, 1898. Under the Presidents second call for additional troops dated May 25, 1898, Rhode Island was also ordered to furnish two batteries of light artillery, which were completed and mustered into US service on June 28, 1898. Upon entering federal service the Rhode Island contingent was placed on inactive status with the First Regiment Rhode Island US Volunteer Infantry assigned to Camp Russell A. Alger, VA (May – July); Camp George Gordon Meade, PA (August – September) & Camp Fornance, Columbia, SC (November – March, 1899). The unit was formerly mustered out of service on March 13, 1899 & arrived in Rhode Island on April 1, 1898. Light Batteries A & B, Volunteer Artillery remained at Quonset Point during entire term and were mustered – out of US service October 26, 1898

Rhode Island in the War with Spain Compiled from the Official Records of the Executive Department of the State of Rhode Island Presented to the General Assembly at its January Session, 1900, E. L. Freeman & Sons, Providence, 1900, 399 pp.

Annual Reports of the Adjutant General, Quartermaster General & Surgeon General of the State of Rhode Island For the Year 1898, E. L. Freeman & Sons, Providence, 1899, 229 pp.

Report of the Origin and Spread of Typhoid Fever in U.S. Military Camps During the Spanish War of 1898, Vol. 2 – Maps & Charts, 1904 by Walter Reed, Major & Surgeon, U.S. army, Victor C. Vaughan, Major & Division surgeon, U S. Volunteers and Edward O. Shakespeare, Major & Brigade Surgeon, U.S. Volunteers, Government Printing Office, Washington